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LAKEWOOD DEVELOPER WANTS TO REMOVE SHUL FROM COMPLEX ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION


A developer is seeking to eliminate a shul that was previously included and approved as part of a residential apartment building complex which is already under construction on Squankum Road.


Back in 2012, Tilwy LLC (owned by Marshall Weissman) received Use Variance approval from Lakewood Township's Zoning Board for construction of a residential complex with 3-story apartment buildings containing a total of 94 units of which 37 were 2 bedroom units, 19 were 3 bedroom units, and 38 were 4 bedroom units. (The total number of bedrooms would be 283).


The complex location is all the way up Squankum Road at the Lakewood/ Howell Township border.


The proposed complex included a shul building and one single tot lot.


All apartments are intended to be for rentals only, with no age restriction. Basements are for storage only with no occupancy or residence.


There application included a sidewalk around the complex's private road, and along the property frontage on Squankum Road.


On September 9, 2019, represented by Attorney Gerald Klein Esq. and Engineer Brian Flannery, the developer returned to the Zoning Board and requested to modify the application to include more 3-bedroom units, and less 2-bedroom units. The new proposal was for 84-3 bedroom units and 10-2 bedroom units. Mr. Flannery extolled the virtues of the application as the number of bedrooms overall would actually be reduced by 11 to 272.



Mr. Flannery further testified that in order to accommodate the additional children who would live in the bigger apartments, they would now provide 3- 4,800 sq foot tot lots instead of the originally approved 1 tot lot, and they would build the proposed 4,000 sq foot shul "as large as they could."


The board responded that they preferred the originally approved 2-bedroom units to the now proposed 3-bedroom units as families tend to stay longer in 3-bedroom units, leading to many more older children in the complex which does not include sufficient recreational space for so many children.


A member of the public additionally pointed out that there was insufficient room for a bus to enter and turn around in the complex, which would cause the numerous children to wait for the bus on Squankum Road. Additionally, if buses need to create this stop on Squankum Road, there is no proper turn-around in the area for buses to get back to Lakewood.


Due to this concern, the Board directed the applicant to return with a revised plan.


The applicant returned on October 28, 2019 with a revised plan showing that the complex will include a turnaround at the entrance so school buses can safely enter and exit the complex without needing to traverse through the complex, and additionally the internal sidewalk will be extended to be provide a walkway and crosswalks from the internal road to the bus stop. The Board also directed the applicant to provide a bus shelter.


When the Board adopted their Resolution of Approval on November 18, 2019, the Board asked what surface will be used for the tot lots. Mr. Flannery responded "recycle rubber mulch." Board Engineer Dave Magno recommended that they use permanent safety surface instead of mulch. Mr. Flannery agreed.


The Board also stipulated a condition that three acres within the adjacent buffer zone will be dedicated for passive recreation and that the developer will install appropriate ramps to permit access to the area.


The 93 apartments would be provided with 197 off-street parking spaces, which is 5 more than the 193 off-street parking spaces required under the New Jersey Residential Site Improvements Standards.


Subsequently, as previously reported here on FAA News, back in February 2023, the developer, under the name JR Squan LLC, again represented by Attorney Gerald Klein and Engineer Brian Flannery returned to the Board for another amendment to the plan.


They represented that while marketing the rental apartments, they learned that the current rental market favors single bedroom apartments versus two bedroom apartments.


They therefore sought approval to eliminate 3 - two bedroom apartments and instead build 6 - single bedroom apartments. This would come to a total of 96 apartments.


For some unexplained reason the amended plan also included slightly reducing the size of the shul and eliminating the previously proposed mikvah.


Due to the change in classification of the apartments, under the New Jersey Residential Site Improvements Standards the project now required 197 off-street parking spaces, which is the exact number of spaces to be provided.


Chairman Abe Halberstam pushed back against the revision, noting that he was happier with the previous version which provided more parking than what was required.


Board Member Moish Lankry said he was enthusiastic about the amended plan as it means there will be less school age kids which ultimately has a reduced impact on the School District's budget.


Board Member Meir Gelley echoed these words, noting that single bedroom apartments will be "more useful and less kids."


The Board reiterated that the bus lane and benches are to remain a condition of the amended approval. The Board also reiterated their previous condition that three acres within the adjacent buffer zone will be dedicated for passive recreation and that the developer will install appropriate ramps to permit access to the area.



All board members besides for Chairman Halberstam voted in favor of the amended application, with the express condition that the developer must "make a good faith effort to locate additional parking spaces to service the project."


Once again, under Appeal 37AAA, JR Squan LLC is seeking yet another revision to the plan.






The revised plan seeks for the Board's approval
to replace the three small playgrounds with a single large playground, and to eliminate the shul completely. Lighting design revisions are also proposed.


The previously approved plan included small playgrounds between Apartment buildings 2-3, between Apartment buildings (6-7) and behind
Apartment building 8, respectively. The newly proposed (fenced) playground would be
located west of Apartment Building 8 (where the previously-proposed shul was proposed.


This request would require a reaffirmation of the previously approved Use Variance, as well as a bulk variance for rear yard setback for a proposed setback of 28.97 feet, where the ordinance requires 30 feet for this zone.


The Board Engineer's review letter indicates that testimony shall be provided to the Board’s satisfaction that the proposed (larger) playground meets or exceeds the benefits of the three (3) approved smaller playgrounds. Additionally, if this request is approved, they recommend that the proposed stormwater piping depicted be
re-rerouted outside of the footprint of the proposed playground.


The Board Engineer's letter also indicates that "the applicant’s professionals must describe the existing approved and amended Site Plan applications to the Board’s satisfaction (sufficient to affirm previously granted use and bulk variance relief). Specifically, why is the approved shul being removed?"


Finally, the Board Engineer's letter indicates that the applicant's professionals should testify "what good faith efforts the developer has taken to locate additional parking spaces to service the project" as per the Board's previous condition of approval.


The application is on the Board's public hearing agenda for this coming Monday, May 1. The meeting will take place at Town Hall, 231 3rd Street beginning at 7:00pm. The meeting is open to the public.


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